Home is …
Westminster, which is a slightly boring part of town, but it’s incredibly central. It’s really easy and we’ve been here for about 20 years. I live with my husband and a selection of children depending on the day.
Where do you stay in London?
I don’t tend to stay in hotels because I have a home, but if I was locked out and rejected by my other family in London — my sister, my brother — I would probably go to the Chelsea Arts Club. It’s fun, irreverent and a bit nuts.
Where was your first flat?
In Brompton Cross. I don’t think it was even called that then. It was just an insalubrious part of town which was quite up and coming. Joseph Ettedgui, who founded Joseph, and Terence Conran completely reinvigorated it. But when I moved there it was pretty skanky.
What was your first job ?
I’ve only ever really worked for myself. When I left school, I started my business designing and making handbags in Italy and then selling them to shops in London.
I love any shop that sells Maynards Wine Gums
Which five shops do you rely on?
I love John Sandoe for books, just off King’s Road. I love Walden Chymist, in Belgravia. It’s a really lovely old-fashioned chemist and there’s the most amazing family who run it. They know your name, and they know exactly what’s wrong with you most of the time. I love Cutler and Gross for glasses, and I have bought mine there for the past 40 years. I love going to my own café on Pont Street for coffee. There’s the Rippon Cheese Shop, in Pimlico, which is like going into a cheese warehouse heaven. And I love any shop that sells Maynards Wine Gums.
What’s the best meal you’ve had?
For Fashion Week every year we would host a dinner for the visiting buyers. We had some mad dinners — we once hosted one on the platform of an abandoned underground station which was part of the old postal rail line. I was in Deptford High Street with my son recently, and there’s a little café there called Jazu, where I had avocado on toast with the most incredible peanut chilli oil I’ve ever had.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Meals out. Toklas, near Temple, is fantastic. I love Ducksoup in Soho, Moro in Exmouth Market. Anything by Jeremy King, my great friend, and by Ruthie Rodgers. I adore her.
What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?
So much, probably, but for a day I would pedestrianise London. I’d also turf it, so you could roll around and have a picnic.
Who is the most iconic Londoner?
Paddington Bear.
What’s the best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?
“Can I help you with that suitcase” — that is always the best thing any cabbie can ever say. That’s the difference between a cabbie and an Uber. They are a really special breed of people.
The police knocked on the door and said they needed to use my flat to stake out a brothel opposite. I learned a lot about brothels
Have you ever had a run in with a police officer?
Once a policeman knocked on the door and said they needed to use my flat to stake out a brothel opposite, which they did for a week or two and was hilarious. I learned a lot about brothels in the area.
Where do you let your hair down?
It’s not about a big night out for me these days, but we’ve had some amazingly fun parties in the Tiroler Hut, which is like Oktoberfest in a basement near Paddington. I really love pubs too. The Nags Head on Kinnerton Street is really special and run by Kevin, who is infamous. If you use a mobile phone, he’ll literally throw you out. The Grenadier is pretty special as well.
Who do you call when you want to have fun?
A range of friends, or my kids. A martini at Dukes is always quite a lovely celebratory thing to do, especially in the afternoon.
What do you collect?
Children. I have five, so that seems like quite a big collection. But mainly children’s crap actually; they seem to use the house as a big yellow storage facility.
What’s your favourite work of art in the capital?
Margaret Calvert is an incredible graphics designer who designed all the road signs in the UK. She has given the nation all these amazing road signs and it’s art that’s all over London. Also the Tube map, by Harry Beck.
What’s your London secret?
Cabmen’s shelters. They are these little green taxi huts, which only London Hackney carriage drivers are allowed to use, but I have a friendship with someone who runs one. They were started in 1875, to keep drivers warm but out of the pub, and there are only 13 left. Each one of them has this dedicated group of cabbies who go. It’s rather sweet.
The new Uniqlo x Anya Hindmarch collection launches May 22, anyahindmarch.com
